Page 86 of February

Bridgette got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her, which was bad because Monica needed to pee. That would have to wait, though, because she needed to take her son to the airport.

“Hey, honey,” she greeted when she opened the door. “Sorry. I overslept. Just give me five minutes. I can meet you in your room or in the lobby.”

“You know you don’t have to take me, right? The car is outside. I can go by myself.”

“No, I want to,” she replied. “I just need a minute.”

“Then, I’ll wait,” Aaron said, and before Monica could say anything, he walked in with his roller bag in his hand. “You never oversleep,” he noted.

“All the excitement of touring colleges, I suppose,” she said as she found a pair of jeans and a shirt in her bag.

“Mom?”

“Yes, honey?”

“Why are Bridgette’s clothes here?”

She turned around and followed Aaron’s finger, which was pointing at Bridgette’s jeans and sweater. She’d folded them and placed them on the desk the previous night.

“Those aren’t Bridgette’s. Those are mine.”

“She literally wore them to dinner,” Aaron said as he laughed. “Mom, do you have a girl hidden in your room?”

“No, I–”

Whatever next lie Monica had been about to tell was interrupted when the bathroom door opened, and Bridgette emerged, looking adorable in Monica’s clothes, with her hair mussed and no shoes on.

“Hey, Aaron.”

Aaron burst out laughing.

“Aaron!”

“I told you! I told you so,” he said.

“Stop that. Nothing happened.”

“She slept over,” he argued, pointing at Bridgette.

“And I behaved myself,” Bridgette replied.

“But you slept over. She said you were just friends. I knew it, though.”

“Aaron, we are just friends. Or, wewerejust friends; I don’t know. Look, we need to get you to the airport.”

“I’m good,” he said as his laughter quieted. “I can get there myself. You two stay here and do whatever it was you, apparently,weren’tdoing.”

“Aaron!” Monica’s blush could probably be seen from Manhattan at this point.

“Mom, it’s cool. Really. I’m glad. I’m happy for you.” He turned to Bridgette. “You’ll treat her right?”

“Oh, my God, Aaron.”

“Yeah, I will,” Bridgette said seriously.

Monica watched as something seemed to be silently exchanged between her son and Bridgette. Then, Aaron walked over to her and pulled her into a hug.

“I’m good, Mom. I’ll take the car to the airport, go through security, and find my gate. I’ve got this. I’ll text you when I board, okay?”

---